Just for the record. I am not outright accusing anyone of anything dishonest or unethical. But it sure LOOKS suspicious. So am I implying a less than honest seller here? Maybe. I don't know the whole story. I can only postulate based on the available facts. And I'd like to get your thoughts.
So. With that said. Tell me what you think of this.
On July 27th, this listing for a customized Teac X-2000R ended. The final bid price was a mere $615. If the description is to be believed at face value, then this seller got hosed on it big time. What I found particularly interesting was that it was worded and structured in such a way that the seller was hoping or intending to set up a bidding war. Note that it was a "private" listing where no one can see who the bidders are. Not even the standard ones that scramble and obscure the ID's but leave the feedback score visible, which with a little detective work, you can usually figure out who it is.
Three days later, what appears to be the exact same deck is relisted. Same pictures. And similar description. Also, for the record, I did not do a line by line review of the narratives to check for changes, but a cursory glance suggests that it's unchanged.
Only this time, the auction format was ended and it was listed with a stratospheric $5000/BIN.
So two questions.
One, what are the odds of there being two of these exact same decks with the exact same history, service, modifications, and appearance?
Two: Anyone else thinks this looks kind of suspicious? I suspect-but again-have no proof-that the first auction bit the seller badly. Most likely one of two things happened: Either A) there was some shilling going on and the seller was his own highest bidder (again see the 'private' listing setup and attempt to start a feeding frenzy). Or B) the seller didn't get the price he was fishing for and gave the buyer some BS story about it being broken, out of town, or whatever. And backed out because he didn't want to lose his butt.
There is the third possibility of C) the winning bidder decided to back out. But I can't imagine why. Since that deck, if the description is accurate, would be a steal for $600. No one in their right mind would let that get away.
Thoughts?
So. With that said. Tell me what you think of this.
On July 27th, this listing for a customized Teac X-2000R ended. The final bid price was a mere $615. If the description is to be believed at face value, then this seller got hosed on it big time. What I found particularly interesting was that it was worded and structured in such a way that the seller was hoping or intending to set up a bidding war. Note that it was a "private" listing where no one can see who the bidders are. Not even the standard ones that scramble and obscure the ID's but leave the feedback score visible, which with a little detective work, you can usually figure out who it is.
Three days later, what appears to be the exact same deck is relisted. Same pictures. And similar description. Also, for the record, I did not do a line by line review of the narratives to check for changes, but a cursory glance suggests that it's unchanged.
Only this time, the auction format was ended and it was listed with a stratospheric $5000/BIN.
So two questions.
One, what are the odds of there being two of these exact same decks with the exact same history, service, modifications, and appearance?
Two: Anyone else thinks this looks kind of suspicious? I suspect-but again-have no proof-that the first auction bit the seller badly. Most likely one of two things happened: Either A) there was some shilling going on and the seller was his own highest bidder (again see the 'private' listing setup and attempt to start a feeding frenzy). Or B) the seller didn't get the price he was fishing for and gave the buyer some BS story about it being broken, out of town, or whatever. And backed out because he didn't want to lose his butt.
There is the third possibility of C) the winning bidder decided to back out. But I can't imagine why. Since that deck, if the description is accurate, would be a steal for $600. No one in their right mind would let that get away.
Thoughts?
